Rearrangeable, characteristic blocks

ABSTRACT

A puzzle and game consisting of a plurality of plastic blocks with colors, patterns, or other characteristics on different sides stacked together in a cube or other parallelepiped with the colors or other characteristics matched in a certain selected pattern so that the cubes may be separated into individual blocks and then replayed seeking to establish either the same pattern or a different one. There is a large number of different possibilities and patterns which may be made. In one form the three-dimensional cube made of 27 blocks having a three-color pattern is supported in a clear plastic stand tilted to present three support sides resting on legs. The stand may be made from interlocking sheets of plastic material. In another form the blocks are shipped in a sheet plastic cube which comes apart into two three-sided sections one of which has a notch in the apex in which the sharp apex of the other may rest and provide a stand for the blocks resting on a table. The device is an amusement puzzle and a conversation piece.

United States Patent I Flanigen [111 3,771,795 Nov. 13, 1973 I REARRANGEABLE,CHARACTERISTIC BLOCKS [76] Inventor: Cameron D. Flanigen, PO. Box 265. aefl tfi l 0, 55

[22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 225,788

[52] US. Cl. 273/157 R, 206/46 AM, 211/133, 248/152, 248/174 [51] Int. Cl. A631 9/12 [58] Field 01 Search 273/157 R; 206/46 AM, 75, 77; 21 l/l33, 42,177;

[56] References Cited Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Attorney-Patrick F. Henry [57] ABSTRACT A puzzle and game consisting of a plurality of plastic blocks with colors, patterns, or other characteristics on different sides stacked together in a cube or other parallelepiped with the colors or other characteristics matched in a certain selected pattern so that the cubes may be separated into individual blocks and then replayed seeking to establish either the same pattern or a different one. There is a large number of different possibilities and patterns which may be made. In one form the three-dimensional cube made of 27 blocks having a three-color pattern is supported in a clear plastic stand tilted to present three support sides resting on legs. The stand may be made from interlocking sheets of plastic material. In another form the blocks are shipped in a sheet plastic cube which comes apart into two three-sided sections one of which has a notch in the apex in which the sharp apex of the other may rest and provide a stand for the blocks resting on a table. The device is an amusement puzzle and a conversation piece.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures REARRANGEABLE, CHARACTERISTIC BLOCKS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Games, puzzles, toys and amusement devices. (Class 35, Subclass 72; Class 46, Subclass 24' =32; Class 35, Subclass 27'; Class 273, Subclass 153 and Class 160, Subclass 156) particularly blocks, block games and puzzles.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The prior art is known to include the following puzzle U.S. Pats. Re Nos. 25,031; 143,835; 146,875; 191,167; 3,222,072; 3,330,053; 3,546,792. None of these blocks, games or puzzles is the same as the present one and therefore fails to challenge or to puzzle in the same way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A very challenging puzzle is presented in the form of individual cubes or blocks having different colors on different sides and even having the individual blocks colored differently from one another so that they may be arranged in a parallelepiped and taken apart and put back together again to challenge the person being amused. The colors may be arranged so that only one of the colors on all external surfaces is displayed and may be rearranged to show each of the other colors. A very useful stand is made in the form of a three-sided support of sheet plastic which may also be made as a detachable package for holding the block before, during and after shipment. One package is made of sheet plastic in the form of a cube which detaches into two individual sections, one of which is notched in the other which fits thereinto to provide a stand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of one form of the present invention disassembledand' ready to be taken apart to be put back together. 3

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled blocks of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view vice shown in FIG. '1. v

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of a stand to hold the assembled blocks shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the blocks showing different colors on different sides.

FIG. 6 is a perspective assembly view of the shipping packet and storage arrangement shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a stand made from the shipping package shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND MODIFICATION THEREOF The puzzle block arrangement designated generally by reference numeral 10 comprises a plurality of individual blocks or cubes 12 shown in FIG. 5, each one of which may be molded or otherwise manufactured from wood, plastic, or'plastic sheet having different colors on some sides such as white on side 14, blue on side 16 and red on side 18. The blocks are assembled into a large cube 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the surfaces of the individual blocks 12 may be arranged in many different patterns such as one color for all faces of the large cube 10, different colors for each face or a checkboard pattern on each face. For example, a 27 block of th e assembled de- 1 cube features three colors whereas a 64 block cube (4X4X4) features four colors (six block two colors) and 125 block five colors, etc. The concept can be expanded to cover any six-sided right angular cube composed of suitable cubicle or rectangular sub-blocks and in any parallelepiped arrangement. In fact, any solid geometric figure made of subblocks can be made where the color patterns can be used to effect changing designs.

To hold the blocks in assembled relationship and to display same there is a support and display stand shown in FIG. 1 designated generally by reference numeral 30 and comprising three sections 32, 34 and 36 having triangular legs 38 and being assembled to provide a tripod support presenting a three-sided tilted support made up of the flat portions of the elements 32, 34 and 36. The three sides comprise the bottom half of a cube and the optional top half is designated generally by reference numeral 40 and comprises three flat sheets 42, 44 and 46 made from transparent plastic the same as the rest of the stand 30 glued or otherwise attached along marginal edges and being sized to fit into place and match with the portions of 32, 34 and 36 in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

An alternative base is shown in FIG. 4 and comprises a molded plastic stand 50 having a circular base 52 and being glued or molded to the apex S4 of a three-sided, one-half of a cube designated generally by reference numeral 58 and being made from three transparent plastic sheets 62, 64 glued or otherwise attached along marginal edges 66 and supported in tilted relation in the manner shown in FIG. 4 at the joint where the apex is located at 54. The assembly of blocks shown in FIG. 2 will rest in this tilted support being displayed through the transparent plastic sides and with the blocks 12 remaining in place.

A second form of stand and also shipping and storage container is shown in FIG. 6 designated generally by reference numeral 70 and comprises two one-half cube sections 72, 74 each made from clear transparent plastic sheets and each comprising three sides 74, 76 and 78 on one side, 80, 82, 84 on the other side assembled to make a composite cube plastic box shown in FIG. 6. The apex of section 74 is cut away to provide a notched opening 86 and is shown in FIG. 7 with section 74 inverted to place the three edges 88, 90, 92 as a tripod base, the other section 72 has the apex 96 inserted in the hole'86 to provide a tilted support from section 72 in similar fashion to the previous embodiments.

64 block cube Combinations STD 0 1 3 2 l 0 l 3 1 l 2 3 1 3 0 2 l 0 l 2 3 0 l 0 l 2 2 l 4 6 l 2 1 2 4 6 1 2 0 3 l 0 l l 3 l 2 2 1 l 2 2 4 6 l 1 l 3 2 2 1 0 3 2 l 0 l 0 2 3 l 0 0 3 3 0 0 2 0 3 2 l l 0 0 3 l 2 l 0 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 2 3 1 1 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 2 1 3 l 0 0 l 3 2 l 0 0 l 2 3 l 0 0 0 3 3 0 2 Total 64 64 27 block cube Colors Combinations A B C STD I II Ill 3 3 0 l l l l 3 2 l 3 4 5 6 3 l 2 3 2 1 0 2,. 3 l 3 2 l 0 2 2 2 6 6 6 6 2 1 3 3 4 5 6 l 3 2 3 4 5 6 l 2 3 3 2 l 0 0 3 3 1 l l l 3 0 3 l l l 1 Total 27 27 27 27 CODE A,B,C & D etc are colors or characteristics STD is the standard symmetrical coding l,ll,&lll etc. are alternative coding The nos. 1 ,etc. refer to the quantity of blocks in each color combination The above noted table illustrates color code patterns for the small blocks which patterns provide the unique feature that the large cube 10 may be assembled to display only the one color on all external surfaces and the displayed color may be any one of three colors for a 27-block cube, four colors for a 64-block cube, five for a 25-block cube, etc. Many different color relationships may be established by rearrangement of the different blocks. The challenge is almost unlimited and the opportunities vary from very simple to very complex thereby lending the invention and the puzzle to various mentality and psychology of challenge.

While I have shown and described a particular form of the invention together with variations of the base, this is by way of illustration only since as indicated above there are other arrangements which may be made and there are various alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, substitutions, combinations, additions, subtractions, revisions and departures which may be made in the embodiment shown without departing from the scope of my invention as defined by a proper interpretation of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a puzzle block arrangement:

a. a plurality of individual puzzle blocks having more than one characteristic on more than one face,

said blocks being arranged into a threedimensional parallelepiped with the characteristics in different relationship thereon,

c. said blocks being detachable from one another and being replaceable in the same or different pattern based on the characteristics,

d. a support stand having three assembled and tilted sides supporting at least three assembled sides of said assembled cube of blocks tilted with one corner of the blocks pointing downwardly and another pointing upwardly, said sides being of such character such that all faces of said blocks are visible therethrough and the characteristics may be noticed,

e. said stand having a ground support base engaging the downward corner of said assembled sides sup' porting said sides on a tilt.

2. The device claimed in claim 1:

said stand comprising three attached plastic sheets each having tapered ends providing said ground support base in the form of three support legs with the upper ends thereof defining said tilted block supporting sides.

3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said blocks are adapted to be contained in a storage container comprising one-half of a parallelepiped in each of two'sections and one of said sections having an opening in one corner into which fits the corner of the other in inverted relationship to provide said ground support base on the bottom and said block supporting sides on the top.

4. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein:

there are 64 blocks and there are four colors arranged into a 4X4 4 cube.

5. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein: there are blocks and there are five colors arranged into a 5 5 5 cube.

6. The device claimed in claim 1:

said stand sides each having transparent portions exposing at least portions of said blocks.

7. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein: there are 27 of said blocks with faces colored in three colors and with a coded pattern such that said blocks may be arranged as a 3X3 3 cube which displays only one color on all faces of the large cube and any one of the three colors may be so displayed.

8. The device claimed in claim 7 wherein said support stand is transparent so that said blocks are visible therethrough and the colors may be 4 9. The device in claim 8 wherein there are 64 blocks and there are four colors arranged into a 4X4X4Xcube.

10. The device in claim 8 wherein there are 125 blocks and there are five colors arranged into a 5X5 5 cube.

11. The device in claim 7 wherein said support stand is transparent so that said blocks are visible therethrough and the colors may be noticed,

said stand comprising three attached plastic sheets each having tapered ends providing said ground support base in the form of three support legs and with the upper ends thereof defining said tilted block supporting sides.

12. The device in claim 11 wherein there are 64 blocks and there are four colors arranged in a 4X4X4 cube.

13. The device in claim 11 wherein there are 125 blocks and there are five colors arranged into a 5X5 X5 cube.

14. The device in claim 7 wherein said blocks are adapted to be contained in a storage container comcube. 

1. In a puzzle block arrangement: a. a plurality of individual puzzle blocks having more than one characteristic on more than one face, b. said blocks being arranged into a three-dimensional parallelepiped with the characteristics in different relationship thereon, c. said blocks being detachable from one another and being replaceable in the same or different pattern based on the characteristics, d. a support stand having three assembled and tilted sides supporting at least three assembled sides of said assembled cube of blocks tilted with one corner of the blocks pointing downwardly and another pointing upwardly, said sides being of such character such that all faces of said blocks are visible therethrough and the characteristics may be noticed, e. said stand having a ground support base engaging the downward corner of said assembled sides supporting said sides on a tilt.
 2. The device claimed in claim 1: said stand comprising three attached plastic sheets each having tapered ends providing said ground support base in the form of three support legs with the upper ends thereof defining said tilted block supporting sides.
 3. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein: said blocks are adapted to be contained in a storage container comprising one-half of a parallelepiped in each of two sections and one of said sections having an opening in one corner into which fits the corner of the other in inverted relationship to provide said ground support base on the bottom and said block supporting sides on the top.
 4. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein: there are 64 blocks and there are four colors arranged into a 4 X 4 X 4 cube.
 5. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein: there are 125 blocks and there are five colors arranged into a 5 X 5 X 5 cube.
 6. The device claimed in claim 1: said stand sides each having transparent portions exposing at least portions of said blocks.
 7. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein: there are 27 of said blocks with faces colored in three colors and with a coded pattern such that said blocks may be arranged as a 3 X 3 X 3 cube which displays only one color on all faces of the large cube and any one of the three colors may be so displayed.
 8. The device claimed in claim 7 wherein said support stand is transparent so that said blocks are visible therethrough and the colors may be 4
 9. The device in claim 8 wherein there are 64 blocks and there are four colors arranged into a 4 X 4 X 4 X cube.
 10. The device in claim 8 wherein there are 125 blocks and there are five colors arranged into a 5 X 5 X 5 cube.
 11. The device in claim 7 wherein said support stand is transparent so that said blocks are visible therethrough and the colors may be noticed, said stand comprising three attached plastic sheets each having tapered ends providing said ground support base in the form of three support legs and with the upper ends thereof defining said tilted block supporting sides.
 12. The device in claim 11 wherein there are 64 blocks and there are four colors arranged in a 4 X 4 X 4 cube.
 13. The device in claim 11 wherein there are 125 blocks and there are five colors arranged into a 5 X 5 X 5 cube.
 14. The device in claim 7 wherein said blocks are adapted to be contained in a storage container comprising one-half of a cube in each of two sections and one of said sections having an opening in one corner into which fits the corner of the other end in inverted relationship to provide said ground support base on the bottom and said block supporting sides on the top.
 15. The device in claim 14 wherein there are 64 blocks and there are four colors arranged into a 4 X 4 X 4 cube.
 16. The device in claim 14 wherein there are 125 blocks and there are five colors arranged into a 5 X 5 X 5 cube. 